Day 5 - Detox diary countdown

Sugar, you're sweet enough!You'd be surprised just how much sugar and sweetness there is in many natural foods, which you'll discover as you move through this programme. You'll soon wonder why you ever used that white stuff – which has actually had every single nutrient from the original sugar beet processed out of it!You'll already have packed away the granulated, icing, caster and other varieties from your store cupboards. Now's the time to treat yourself – go to your local store and pick up some maple syrup or, even better, some manuka honey. It's quite expensive, but a delicious and nutritious alternative to sugar.Honey is packed full of vitamins including B6, thiamin, niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid and certain amino acids. Minerals include calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium and zinc. 'Conductivity' is an indirect way of measuring the mineral content of honey - and Manuka honey is many time higher-than-normal on this – about four times that of your typical flower honey. The higher the conductivity, the better the nutritional value of the honey.If you put sugar in your coffee or tea, you can now lace them with honey instead. You'll be doing your health a favour. Better still, educate yourself to enjoy them without any form of sweetener – it's just a habit, after all!Tomorrow: big deep breath... and out with the alcohol!